Capital contenders build on provincial pain

The likes of Chelsea FC, Real Madrid CF and S.S. Lazio made it a weekend to savour for fans in some of Europe's capital cities, with rival sides Manchester United FC, FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano all held to draws. UEFA.com takes a look back at the latest action, which also featured landmark wins for 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Stade Rennais FC.

EnglandChelsea FC strengthened their grip at the top of the Premier League thanks to a 2-0 win against title rivals Arsenal FC that lifted them four points clear. Their closest pursuers are now Manchester City FC, who defeated Newcastle United FC 2-1 to skip ahead of city neighbours Manchester United FC, held to a 0-0 draw at Sunderland AFC. Rafael van der Vaart registered twice for Tottenham Hotspur FC as they beat Aston Villa FC, but perhaps the result of the weekend came at Anfield, where promoted Blackpool FC downed Liverpool FC 2-1. "We have a lot of work to turn the situation around," said Reds manager Roy Hodgson.

ElsewherePSV Eindhoven are the new Eredivisie leaders thanks to a weekend in which they beat VVV-Venlo 3-0 and AFC Ajax succumbed 2-1 at home against FC Utrecht. There was a change in Cyprus too as AC Omonia's 3-0 loss at APOEL FC helped Anorthosis Famagusta FC assume command, while R. Standard de Liège's stunning 5-1 win against RSC Anderlecht lifted them to within six points of Belgian pacesetters KRC Genk. SL Benfica jumped up to second by seeing off fellow Portuguese UEFA Champions League representatives SC Braga 1-0 and the tussle between Ukraine's finest ended with FC Shakhtar Donetsk defeating FC Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 to streak five points clear.

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